CleoPODtra

Lynn Maleh and Christie Bahna are two Middle Eastern comedy queens digging up the funny from the first-generation experience. In this episode, Christie and Lynn chat with Nigerian-American comic/ writer/ troublemaker Kazeem Rahman about his upbringing in TX, his comedy philosophy, and his double life (IT guy by day, artist by night).

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Kazeem Rahman is a comedian known for his sharp wit and observational style. Kazeem's jokes will leave audiences laughing and thinking, thanks to his deadpan delivery and ability to find humor in even the darkest situations. You can hear his jokes throughout Sirius XM on Pure Comedy and Kevin Hart’s LOL Radio.

Lynn Maleh and Christie Bahna are two Middle Eastern comedy queens digging up the funny from the first-generation experience.

In this episode, they chat with Ukrainian writer and standup comic Galina Rivina about her upbringing in Odesa and Ohio; Russian / Ukrainian superstitions; her standup career in LA; the power of positive thinking; and the eternal wisdom of the Fast and Furious franchise.

In this episode, Christie and Lynn talk to comic Gena B. Jones, about her diverse upbringing in Washington, D.C.; her Mexican and Syrian roots; the unifying power of shopping malls; the best Trader Joe's snacks; and more!

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Gena is a Syrian-Mexican-American comedian, writer and show producer based in Los Angeles. She’s currently a regular at the Hollywood Improv, the Westside Comedy Theater, The Crow, and a plethora of indie venues around LA. At the Improv, she co-produces Hilarious Habibis, a quarterly standup showcase that exclusively features Middle Eastern talent. The show was recently featured in the New York Comedy Festival, SF Sketchfest, the LA Times, and AlAraby TV.

Follow her on Instagram and TikTok!

In this episode, Lynn and Christie chat with Palestinian-American comic Joe Abousakher about his upbringing on a sheep farm in rural Tennessee; performing comedy in Palestine; his evolution as a comic in LA's standup scene; and his award-winning pie-making skills.

In this episode, we chat with Sam Oh about his upbringing in Los Angeles by Korean Christian immigrants; the gay allegory that is Hannah Montana; skincare; comedy; and how it's ok for underrepresented communities to be ugly and unlikable!

Mitra Karimi-Taleghani, MSW, ASW, CYT, is a psychotherapist living in Los Angeles. She received her B.A. in Gender Studies with a Minor in Education from UCLA and her MSW from Radford University. She has over a decade of experience working with diverse populations in the mental health world, including hospitals, non-profits, and private practices in urban, suburban, and rural settings. Her therapeutic approach is anti-racist, anti-oppressive, culturally-affirming, queer-affirming, kink-affirming, and client-centered.

Find her @blackmarkettherapy and blackmarkettherapy.com.

Christie Bahna and Lynn Maleh are two Middle Eastern comedy queens digging up the funny from the first-generation experience. In this episode, the queens discuss standup comedian Arijana Ramic's upbringing in Seattle as the daughter of Muslim, Bosnian refugees; her mindset and goal-setting habits with the long game of comedy; and an elaborate prank involving an actual Bachelorette contestant.

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Arijana Ramic is a comedian and writer originally from Seattle, WA. You can now find her taking the LA scene by storm and even working at the Comedy Store as a “door guy.” Arijana is able to sweetly navigate dark topics like growing up with Bosnian immigrant parents, identifying as Type A, and sadness, all with a smile on her face.

Follow her on Instagram and read her work!

Christie Bahna and Lynn Maleh are Middle Eastern comedy queens digging up the funny from the first-generation experience. Milan Patel is an Indian-American standup comedian based in LA.

In this episode, the gang explores Milan's West Coast roots and his family's motel business; irrational childhood fears and delusions; first-generation identity; and standup comedy in Seattle, Portland, and Los Angeles.

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Milan Patel has been featured on Bumbershoot and the Bridgetown Comedy Festival, and he produces a bunch of great stand up showcases in LA including Dead Serious , Stacks Comedy, and Dishoom Comedy, a show where comedians roast scenes from their favorite Indian Action movies in front of a live audience - think Mystery Science Theater, but with a Bollywood vibe!

Marlena Rodriguez is a first-generation Cuban, Puerto Rican TV writer and comedian who’s been writing and performing comedy since birth. She’s toured with The Second City, performed stand up around the world, and is a Sundance Episodic Lab alum. Marlena’s written on hit TV shows like Lord Miller's Clone High, Tina Fey's Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, HBO's Silicon Valley, and more!

Marlena has performed stand up around the world, was named a Comic To Watch by Comedy Central, and made her TV debut with a stand up special on HBO titled, About Last Night. Soon after, she became was one of the first Latinas to do a set on Late Night television with her set on NBC’s A Little Late with Lily Singh. Watch Marlena’s latest special, Unprotected Sets, on MGM+.

Find her @Marlenagotalife (Insta); @MarlenaRodrigz (Twitter); and MarlenaRodriguez.com!

Christie Bahna and Lynn Maleh are two Middle Eastern comedy queens on an expedition to dig up the funny from the first-generation experience.

This week's guest, Nthenya Ndunda, is a dynamic force in comedy with a cynical mind and an extroverted persona. She masterfully blends observational humor with thoughtful reflections, leaving audiences in a delightful quandary: is this deeply profound, or is this a playful commentary on our collective shallowness? Born in Nairobi, Kenya, her early life unfolded against the backdrop of Vancouver’s diverse cityscape and later in the complicated but charming streets of Charleston, SC. As an immigrant, her humor draws from the reality of navigating life in different places, capturing the essence of being both an insider and an outsider.

Find her on Instagram @im_nthenya.